Steelers vs. Chargers, Week 6: Knee-Jerk Reactions to the Steelers’ 24-17 win over the Chargers

Here we go! The Steelers had a pretty rough start to the the season by going 1-4. To stay even barely afloat, they can’t afford to lose to the Chargers in Los Angeles. This is really a must win. Let’s see if they can pull this off.

Nonetheless, a simple reminder, a knee jerk reaction is an immediate and unthinking, emotional reaction. It’s basically shooting first and apologizing later. I can safely say that’s a true definition of your’s truly and a good lot of Steeler Nation. Here’s my real-time reactions during the Steelers’ chance at redemption as they desperately look for their first win of the new season.

Quarter 1

• I’m ready to watch football in a soccer stadium. I’m wondering if the Chargers really have a home field advantage in this place.
• There’s nothing badass about a place called Dignity Health Sports Complex.
• Gotta keep in mind, the Chargers are struggling as well.
• Desmond King is scary. Gotta shut him down.
• I kinda think that the defense is going to have to score some points in this game.
• Nuts! Hunter Henry is back and he’s the kind of TE that will give the Steelers fits early.
• Bud with great penetration in the backfield on that run stop.
• Got lucky on that third-down drop. At least they forced a punt.
• Here we go. 14,000 yards in college gotta be worth something. Go Duck !
• Not afraid to pass early. A little further and JuJu might have made some magic.
• A completion, but a three and out. Bahhhhhhhhh!
• Bud and Tuitt with some great pressure. With a suspect line, they are going to need to bring a lot of heat.
• Remember what I wrote about the defense scoring points. That was huge.
• Bush is always around the action and magic with the ball in his hands. 7-0 Steelers.

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• The rush defense looks stout early.
• Can’t let the Chargers convert third downs like that.
• Bush again. Yessssss! That draft-day trade was well worth it.
• I love how Hodges calls himself “Duck”.
• We really need Conner to control this game.
• Conner fought for that huge first down.
• Thats what we need. Great score by Conner.
• Nice blocking by Big Al and Vanimal.
• Hodges is getting a nice gift from the defense. You can’t ask for more.
• Vince Williams is an animal.
• Another three and out.
• That penalty on the Chargers is pretty big. Starting on the thirteen for a rookie could be dangerous.
• One yard gain. Switzer is the fair catch king.
• Conner with a nice run again to give Duck room.
• End of one. 14-0 Steelers.

Quarter 2

• Need to convert this third down.
• And Conner does with a great hole by Pouncey and Ramon.
• Conner is running strong.
• Great catch and throw from Duck to Diontae Johnson.
• Bennie Snell Jr. with a four-yard run. I’ll take it.
• Duck is really mobile, but he just got cracked by King.
• No. 6 looked poised on the first down, but Conner really bailed him out by fighting for the first. Love it.
• Would really love to see Hodges and Snell get them in the touchdown zone. That would give them more confidence.
• Big third down for Duck.
• Wow! James Conner with a monstrous game. 21-0.

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• Can’t let up.
• Oh Chickillo!
• Vinny Williams makes a difference.
• Artie “Cushion” Burns giving up a big third down play. That’s familiar.
• Oh no!!! Bush’s ankle looks really hurt.
• He’s walking off a little better.
• Fitzpatrick got lucky on that Williams drop.
• I hate when Burns is in there.
• Can’t let them score seven here. I want no part of deja vu from last year.
• That has got to be intentional grounding.
• Good.
• Dan McCullers made that happen. Yay, Shade Tree.
• Why are they going for three?
• Doink!,,,,,,,
• They aren’t risking anything and get the ball back in the second half.
• End of two. 21-0 Stillers.

Quarter 3

• Tuitt being out hurts.
• Offense could possibly put this away with a TD. Lets go.
• Conner with a nice run.
• Hodges in the face of a corner blitz with a big-league throw.

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• Sure he hasn’t gone deep, but he doesn’t really have to.
• Diontae Johnson would have caught that deep ball, but Thomas Davis tattooed him with an illegal hit. Necessary flag.
• Thomas Davis is playing dirty. He body slammed Conner. He could be banged up from that play.
• Nice set up with the screen to BSJ, but the JuJu hold negated it.
• Bennie Snell Football. Bennie Snell First Down.
• The Chargers are frustrated and shooting themselves in the collective foot.
• Snell is running well.
• I thought Conner was hurt on that Davis play.
• No. 24 with a big first down by a nose.
• Good to see Conner back in there.
• That was scary on the errant snap.
• Boswell = true. 24-0.
• Huge knockdown by T.J. Watt.
• Lets put this game away now.
• Moncrief with a big catch. Wasn’t an easy one.
• Wow! Everything is coming up Steelers tonight.
• Justin Layne with the slap away. But it should be fair catch interference.
• I don’t think it could be called any other way.
• Watt is dominant. That was nearly a strip sack and a score.
• Wow. A Keenan Allen sighting.
• Bush can’t stick his finger in a face, but it seemed minor. But who knows?
• Bush has to wrap up Ekeler there late in the third.
• Chargers really getting moving now.
• End of three. 24-Zip.

Quarter 4

• Big coverage sack by Watt and Chickillo.
• Joe Haden with a huge knock away to force fourth down.
• Chargers are finally on the scoreboard, but holding them to three is a major victory.
• That Vanett catch wasn’t.
• BSJ with a huge fight of a run.
• Snell is balling.

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• Hodges with the pick. There’s a hitch in his deep ball.
• Going to get Burns with a hands-to-the-face.
• Bush and Hilton missing tackles on Mike Williams. Gotta wrap up.
• Edmunds with a nice breakup on Henry.
• Kam Kelly with a missed tackle on Green. Sloppy.
• Hilton and Bush with a nice stop on the screen.
• Cam Sutton with a sweet breakup.
• Burns with the force out. Looks like a TD. Not sure if he had control though.
• This is a huge drive. They have to drain clock and move chains. Has to be at least a four-minute drive,
• Snell with a giant run on first down.
• Really want a conversion here.
• Switzer = nothing. Damn.
• If they blow this, it will be devestating.
• The drive was about 3:06...give or take.
• Minkah almost had a pick. Ball knocked away.
• Kelly with a huge hit.
• Blown coverage.
• McCullers with a dumb penalty.
• Sutton with a breakup. He’s looking good.
• This is getting nerve-wracking.
• Hunter Henry with the score. Kelly got pushed off, but still beaten.
• Cam Sutton with a big grab on the onside kick while getting tilt-a-whirled.
• Snell with the extra effort.
• They have to move the chains.
• That was a missed helmet-to-helmet hit by Jenkins on Snell.
• I don’t love the punt call.
• I take it back. Perfect kick to the one.
• Holton is pretty good on ST. That’s why he’s on the team.
• Hilton almost caught the bomb. Would have been tough.
• Watt being on the sidelines is disconcerting.
• Cam Sutton with the theft and almost a score.
• Phil Rivers had no problem celebrating last year. He’s a punk.
• Big win.

Once again, I just shot first and I’ll apologize later. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching me do the highlights if I hadn’t been blacklisted by the major networks. Now time to watch it again and see what really happened. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.